Hey People! Here is the fourth chapter! I hope you all like it! R&R!
flyingthoroughbred
P.S. Petradot will come into play towards the end of the story, but you will need to know about it and that was the best way I could come up with! Also, thanks to Lizzy101 for beta-reading this chapter!
Hermione and Ron followed Dumbledore into his office. They stood in front of his desk while he gave them the directions.
"You will have to walk all the way into Hogsmeade, and then take Three Broomsticks Street until you get to the house with the Number Eighty-Four on the door," Dumbledore instructed them. "Then, you must knock on the door three times, then wait. You will give the package to an older woman named Madame Bell, and only to her. No one else may take the package for you or from you."
"What do we do if she is not home, Headmaster?" Hermione politely asked, not giving any hint as to her ulterior motives for delivering the package and its letter to Hogsmeade.
"Then you and Mr. Weasley may go to the Three Broomsticks and have Butter-Beers on my tab," Dumbledore graciously told her, "Then you must check every fifteen minutes to see if Madame Bell has returned."
He then handed over the package and its letter to Hermione and Ron, and stepped about a meter away from them.
"I am going to place the protective charm on you two now, okay?" Dumbledore asked and performed the charm without waiting for a reply.
Hermione and Ron felt a tingly sensation pass over them as Dumbledore pointed his wand at them and muttered the charm. As quickly as it came, it had gone.
"You are now fully protected from any attack," Dumbledore stated as he pushed them towards the door to his office, "And make sure not to stop for any reason!"
"Goodbye!" Hermione and Ron called as they stepped onto the staircase, and began slowly spiraling downwards.
"It's bloody cold out here," Ron commented under his breath as they walked out into the cold, spring night. They had not realized how much time had passed since their meeting with Hagrid in the late afternoon. The rain from the day had cleared off, and had left in its place a sky twinkling with stars and a bright, almost-full moon.
"At least there is plenty of light to see by," Hermione said, trying to take her mind off of the cold. Ron didn't answer for a long time.
"Why don't you give the package to me, Hermione?" Ron asked, "It must be getting heavy."
"Thanks," she said, as she handed it over, "It really does get quite heavy after awhile."
"I wonder what's in here anyway," Ron wondered aloud as he took the package and resumed walking.
"I don't know," Hermione answered him, "but it must be something for the Order."
"Why do you say that?"
"Well, he is sending us out in the dark to deliver it, instead of having us wait until morning, and he put a protective charm around us 'to keep us safe from any attack' remember? Why would anyone want to attack two school kids going into Hogsmeade on a Friday night, unless whatever is in that package is something important?"
"I didn't think of that," Ron mumbled as he unconsciously tightened his grip on the package.
From then on they walked along the road to Hogsmeade in silence, until a twig broke in the edge of the Forbidden Forest that lined the road.
"Did you hear that?" Hermione whispered, stopping dead in her tracks and looking into the Forest.
"Hear what?" Ron asked, stopping with her.
"N-nothing. It must have been my imagination."
"Uh… okay, Hermione," he answered, slightly unnerved about Hermione's indecisive answer, as he followed her line of sight into the trees bordering the road.
Once again, they continued walking, both of them unconsciously listening for signs of followers. All of a sudden, a red jet of sparks flew over Hermione's head, narrowly missing her. Hermione and Ron drew their wands and stood back-to-back, just as they had learned in the Dueling Club in their second year, even though Gilderoy Lockhart had taught them. Ten figures clad in black cloaks, with masks over their faces, came out of the Forest, their wands pointing directly at the pair. Hermione and Ron knew immediately that their suspicions about the package had been confirmed. If this package weren't important, Death Eaters would not have been sent to intercept it.
"Hand over the package, Weasley, and we will make sure that your girlfriend's death is quick. I can't say much for yours," a cold voice drawled, sounding exactly like Lucius Malfoy's.
"Don't do it Ron," Hermione whispered in his ear, "On the count of three I want you to stun as many Death Eaters as you can." Ron nodded. "One…"
"I said to hand the package over, Weasley," Malfoy warned as he pointed his wand at Hermione. Rage boiled up inside Ron. 'How dare he threaten Hermione!' he thought, 'He will pay for this!'
"Two…." Hermione counted.
"I don't think so, Malfoy," Ron said through gritted teeth.
"Three!" Hermione yelled, as she quickly stunned the closest Death Eater.
"Stupefy!" Ron yelled as he pointed his wand at Lucius. He was pleased to see that the spell had hit home, as Malfoy dropped to the ground, stunned.
"Hurry!" Hermione yelled at him as she stunned two more Death Eaters. Four down, six to go.
"I'm trying!" he yelled back as he, in turn, stunned two.
When the last Death Eater fell, Hermione yelled, "Let's go, Ron!" as she grabbed his hand and ran the rest of the way to Hogsmeade.
So what do you think? Please R&R!
flyingthoroughbred
P.S. Constructive criticism is always welcome!